Poultry farming

The rearing of the checks in the farm for the commercial production
of egg, meat and fertilizer is called poultry farming. It includes
chickens, ducks, pigeons, ostrich etc. In Nepal, there are three breeds
are commercially important and these are white leghorn and Rhode
Island Red for egg production and Plymouth Rocks (Broilers) are for
meat production. This industry is play an important role in improve
the social economic condition of people of village and urban.
The poultry farming includes
1. Incubation.
The process of development of chick embryo inside the egg is called
incubation. In poultry farming, the natural fertilized eggs are
incubated in an artificial incubator in about 37 ̊C to 38 C
̊ . Incubation
period of chick is about 21 days.
2. Brooding
It is a kind of maternal care by foster hen for providing necessary
warm and food to growing pullets. Artificial brooding is the process
of keeping one day old chicken in a kind of box for the constant warm
the growing pullets. Inside box temperature adjusts about 35 ̊C and
every week it should be lowered by 3 ̊C till it comes down to 21 ̊C.
3. Rearing
It is process of keeping growing pullets to have healthy. The rearing
systems of pullets are given bellow.
a) Extensive system:- In this system, chickens are let free day time
but imprisoned during night. It is more common in village.
b) Semi- intensive system :- In this system, chickens are let free in
a small area for pasturing during day time and imprisoned
during night. It is more common in village.
 c) Intensive system :- in this system, chickens are confined to the
room only. Here chicken is kept in as separate cage (battery
system) or reared in common group(Deep litter system)
d) Folding unit system:- In this system, chickens are kept to one
small space and position is changed every day.

4. Management :-
It is important portion of poultry farming. It includes selection of
site, sanitation, marketing etc. A poultry pen establish at dry sunny,
open and peaceful place.
5. Feed:-
Poultry feed made by mixing of special varieties of substances
which are rich in calcium and protein to increase the poultry
products. It includes grains, oil cakes, green grass, fish meals,
vitamins and salt etc.
6. Disease and control:-
There are different kinds of diseases are seen in poultry farming
like cholera, Ranikhet, Gambaru etc. These can be controlled by
improving in nutrition, sanitation, timely vaccination and also in
other management.
Advantages of poultry farming
1. It provides good opportunity for self employment.
2. Eggs and meats are good sources of nutrients which are
necessary for growth and development.
3. Dropping and feather of chicken are used as manures for crop
fields.
4. It requires less space as compare to livestock.
Breed of chickens in Nepal
Many breeds of the chicken have been originating from the jungle
fowl (Gallus gallus)
A. Local breeds
1. Dumse:- for meat
2. Ghati khule:-
3. Sakini
B. Exotic breeds
1. Rhode island red:- Average body size of female 3 kg and male
3.8 (for egg and meat)
2. Polymouth rock:- Average body size of female 3.5 kg and male
4.5 kg. (for egg and meat)
3. New Hampshire:- Average body size of female 2.8 kg and male
3.8 kg. (for egg)
4. Sunsex:- Average body size of female 3.4 kg and male 4 kg. (for
egg)
5. Leghorn:- Average body size of female 2. kg and male 2.7 kg.
(for egg)
6. Austrolep:- Average body size of female 3. kg and male 3.8 kg.
(for egg)
7. Broiler and white cornishe:- these are cultivated for meat